hambay



L t e e h s e e h s 2 s R O mi YM Am Bm ML AM HG .m mnu-v .R JN K G V0 L a. d 0 M 0 m Patented Aug. 4, 1891.

F'IGJ.

mvEN'roR, jj hm is .wm Je wzjhf a n? m N# if w W@ Y (No Model.)

Patented Aug. 4, 189L INVENTOR,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES T. HAMBAY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SVITCH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

LOCK FOR SIGNAL-INDICATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 456,952, dated August` 4, 1891..

Application tiled November 3, 1890. Serial No. 370,133. (No model.)

To all rwhom t may concern:

Beit known that I,- JAMEs T. HAMBAY, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered a certain new and useful Improvement in Locks for Signal-Indicators, of which improvement the following is a specification.

The invention described vherein relates to `certain improvements in that form of switch and signal apparatus wherein one signal is employed for'controlling a series of two or more switches in connection with indicators to point the track for which the switch has been adjusted, or a series of signals are employed for the same purpose. These indicator's are usually operated by means of camplates arranged on or near the signal-post. Such cam-plates, having independent connections to the bars of the selector, are connected by wires of greater or less length to the wire or rod leading to the signal in order that the proper indicator maybe moved to position at the same time as or a littleahead of the signal. signal 4to clear, the wires connecting the camplates of the other indicators to the signalshifting wire or rod are slackened, and when so slackened the wires leading from the selector to the other cam-plates are liable to kink and thereby pull the cam-plates of the other indicators forward sufiiciently to raise the other indicators:

The object of the present invention is to provide a lock which will prevent, when one camplate has been shifted, any forward movement of the other cam-plates until the first has been returned to normal; and, in general terms, the invention consists in the construction and combination of vmechanical devices or elements, all as more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a' part of this specification, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the relative arrangement and connections of the selectorindicator cam-plates and one signal. Figs. 2 and 3 are side and front elevations of a signalpost having the signal and indicators, their operating mechanism, and the locking mechanism attached thereto. Fig. Il is a View Hence in pulling an indicator and thev similar to Fig. 1', showing the arrangement of parts where the indicators are used alone-as signals for each switch. Figs. 5 andSare views similar -to Figs. 2 and 3, of the construction of signal mechanism employed in Fig. 4. Fig. G is a plan View looking at the under side of the locking mechanism; and Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the locking mechanism, a portion thereof being broken away.

As shown in Fig. 1, the cam-platesl l, dac., are independently connected by rods or wires 2 to the bars 3 Si, dac., of the-selector 4, which may be of any suitable construction known in the art. The selectorhas, as is customary, a single connection 5 to an operating-leverin the signal-tower A, the bars 3, tbc., being shifted into engagement with the connection 5 by slides 6 6, tbc., which are operated by the switches of the several tracks or by the rods leading to such switches, as shown. The front ends of the cam-plates 1 11,&c.,are connected by Wires 7 7, dac., to a wire 8, which, passing around a guide-pulley 9, is connected to the lever for operating the signal-blade 10, and passes thence back to a lever in the signaltower A.

rlhe cam-plates 1 la, tbc., are arranged in vertical slots formed in vertical plates 11, formed on a bed-plate 12, preferably secured to suitable foundations at the foot of the signal-post 13. In these plates are formed camslots 11i, and in these slots are arranged the pinsl, secured to one end of the bent levers 1G 16a, duc., pivoted, as shown, on a shaft 27, supported at its ends in side pieces on the bed-plate 12, as shown in Fig. To the opposite ends of these levers are attached the rods 17 17, tbc., which have their opposite ends connected to one end of the levers 18 18, tbc., loosely pivoted, as shown, to a shaft 19, mounted, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in suitable bearings on the signal-post 13 at or near its upper end. Disks 2O 20, dac., numbered or otherwise marked in accordance with the several tracks or sidings, are attached to the free ends of the levers 1S 18, dec. A sema phore-blade 21 is secured to the shaft 19, and to said blade is connected one end of arod 22, the opposite end of the rod being connected to one arm of a bell-crank lever 23, pivoted on a pin 24, secured to the signalfpost at or near IOO its lower end. The other arm of this bellcrank lever is connected to the back wire S, as shown in Fig. l, so as toinsnre a movement of the indicator-blades prior to or sim ultaneons with the shifting of the semaphore-blade. As shown in Fig. 2, the bellcrank 23 is weighted, so as to counterbalance the Weight v of the blade of the semaphore.

A cross-bar 24, provided with a longitudinal groove or passage, is supportedinfront of the cam-plates l l, dac., by posts or standards 25. A series of transverse slots 27 are formed in the cross-bar, which is arranged at such a height relative to the cam-plates that the upper edges thereof will pass through said slots. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the edges of the blocks 26 are beveled toward the cam-plates. The blocks 26 are made of such a width relative to the length of the groove or passage in the cross-bar, the ends of said groove or passage being closed by the posts or standards 25, that said blocks have only a movement equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the cam-plates, so that when one of said plates lies between two of said blocks the other cam-plates are locked as against any forward movement.

In the plant indicated in Fig. 1, the signal controlling the movement of trains to the sidings is normally at danger and the switches for clear main line.

When it is desired to admit a train to one of the sidings, the proper lever in the signaltower is shifted,thereby shifting not only the switch,but also one of the slides G,for the purpose of cansin g the proper bar 3 of the selector to engage the connection 5,leading to signaloperating lever in the signal-tower. The signal-lever is then shifted, thereby pulling one of the cam-plates forward and between the locking-blocks 26, and also through one of the wires 7, connecting the cam-plates and signal or back wire 8, setting the signal to safety. As hereinbefore stated, the forward movement of one of the cam-plates and its wire connection 7 will loosen up the other wires 7 7", dac., and the kinking or resilience of said wires will tend to pnll the other cani-plates lL lb forward. Such forward movement of these camaplates is, however, prevented by the locking-blocks, which have been crowded to gether by the entrance of the cam-plate 7 between two of them, as above stated.

As shown in Figs. S and 5, the indicators may be employed as signals, in which case the semaphore-blade 2l will be omitted,the disks 2O 20, &c., being properly shaped to serve as seniaphores.

I claim herein as my inventionl. The combination of a series of two or more indicators, cam-plates for shifting said indicators, anda locking mechanism for locking all' of the cam-plates except that one controlling the indicator for which the switch has been set, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination ot' a series of two or more` indicators, cam-plates for shifting said indicators, and a locking mechanism operated by the forward movement of one of the camplates to lock the other plate in normal position, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a series of two or more indicators, cam-plates for operating the indicators, a longitudinally-grooved bar provided with transverse slots and arranged across the lines of movement of the camplates, and one or more movable blocks arranged in the groove in said bar and having a range ofmoveinent approximately equal to the thickness of one of the cam-plates, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a series of two or more indicators, interlocking mechanism, a selector operated by such mechanism, connections between the selector and the indicators, and locking mechanism for said connection and adapted on the movement of one of the indicators to operative position to lock the other indicators to normal, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES T. HAMBAY.

Vitnesses:

DARWIN S. WoLcoTT, R. H. WHITTLEsEY. 

